Oh my goodness Carolyn K., it sounds as if you're not too keen on eggplant.
I always (mistakenly) start mine with my tomatoes so no wonder they take so long to mature, but when they do, I love to make eggplant lasagna, and dehydrate them to use in all my soups and stews during the colder months
.
I plant at least 16 plants of various varieties.
This year I will start them (and the peppers) earlier
.
Linda